Means for shortening the effective length of lines or cords



J. WALDHEIM 2,338,747

MEANS FOR SHORTIENING THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH 0F A LNE OR GOED Jan. l1, 19.44.

2' sheets-sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. WALDHEIM Filed Dec. 5. 1958 MEANS FOR SHORTENING THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF A LINE OR CORD Jan. 11, 1944.

I N VENTOR.

Patented Jan. 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR SHORTENING THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF LINES.V OR CORDS' Thisv invention relates to means for pulling on a line or cord to tighten it. Embodiments of the invention may be employed for purposes such as tightening clothes lines,- tent lines, and guy lines.

The tendency of the. line when tightened is .to cause the device to rotate in a. reverse direction which would slacken the line. This is prevented, however, by suitable holding means which forms part of the device.

In one form of the invention the` device may be used on a stationary clothesline or onl a pulley clothes line. In the latter case it may be demountably attached to the clothes. carrying reach oi the line and travels therewith.

In each of two other forms of the invention the device serves not only as a tightener but also as a means to prevent spreading of the various reaches of the pulley line when thelatter is loaded with articles of clothes.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings which form part of the speciiication:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a two-reach clothes line showing the invention applied thereto;

Fig. la is a side elevation of a four-reach clothes line with another form of the invention applied thereto;

Figs. 2 and 3 are an edge view and a4 side view respectively. of one form of the device showing it applied to a line preparatory to atighten ing operation;

Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing the device rotated through` 13G-degrees during the line tightening operation;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a combined tightener and holder in which the handlemember is provided with a roller to run on the upper reach of a two-reach pulley clothes line Fig. '1 is av front elevation of a modiiication of the form of invention shown in Fig. 6 and illustrates a combined holder and tightener for use on. pulley. clothes line, having morethan two reaches;

Fig. 8 is aside elevation as seen from the, right handside of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional top plan view taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. '1.

Similar reference characters represent similar parts throughout the speciiication.

The form of device or tightener 29 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2' to 5, inclusive, ccmprisesanarm or body part 33 having at one end a winding means 3| including a' reel 32. A slot or space3-3 divides the reel 32 `into two` members 34 and 35. The reel also includes two notches 31l and 39.

The tightener 29 is detachably connectable to the-lower reach 40-of a pulley clothesline 4l, Fig. 1. The clothes linev also includes. an upper reach 40', the two reaches forming; an elongated loop supported atopposite. ends by suitablefpulleys.

To attach the tightener: 29 to the. line reach 40 it is placed as in Figs. 2 and 3 with the reach lll` in the slot 33. The tightener is subsequently rotated sidewise inthe direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 so that the members 34 and 35 grip the line 40.. As the rotation of the-tightener continues the. line portion 40 enters thenotches 31 and 39 and Windsl around the reel 32 which forms a base for the members 34 and 35. In the event that the line is not suiliciently tight when the device has been rotated through 270 degrees the. latter may be rotated still further until the line. is sufficiently tight. Due to the taut condition of the line it tends to reversely rotate the tightenel 29. This is prevented, however, by suitable holding means 45 caused to engagethe line.

The tightener 29 may be composedjof'wood or any other suitable material. When, however,A a kind or wood, is used which is not of great strength, the members 34 and 35 may be reinforced, against breakage at the base 44', byl screws 441:, Fig. 3.

The holdingl means comprises two grooves 4:5 formed in` opposite faces of an extension- 41 on the body part 3l!V into' either one of which a portion of the line may be inserted. A tongue 4B projectsfrom the-extension 41 towards the. reel Winding device 3l andassists in keeping the line in the grooves 4.6. To insert the line. into the groove the tight'ener is rotated .until the extension is slightlypast vthe reach 40 so that the said reach may be moved pastsaidA tongue towards the body part and then into alignmentwith the slot 4t. The tighteningy device is then permitted to re VerseIy; rotateslightly until the line reach has entered .said groove, 46. If the tongue 43 is made long enough it may serve alone,v without the grooves 46, to hold the reach 4 0 on the extension 41 since itforms, with. the body partor handle 3B, a. slot extendingtowards and having its open end nearest the reel 3|` so thatv the reach 40 may readily be placed into said slot.' When, however, the grooves 46 are used with the vtongue 48 it may be shorter depending upon the' depth ofj the grooves 41.

Since the tendency of the line 40y is to reversely rotatethe tighteningv device 29 the line must be inserted intothe groove in the face of the device` opposite to that at which the line portion leaves the winding means 3|. Thus the tendency of the line to reversely rotate the tightening device 2t causes the extension 4l thereof to be pressed tightly against the reach 40 and prevent accidental removal of said reach from the groove 4B. It will also be understood that the end of the body part which has the extension 4l serves as a lever arm by which the rotation of the winding means 3| is facilitated. It will also be understood that the members 34, and the post 44, Fig. 3, form a cleat which constitutes the winding device 3|.

By employment of the tightener 29 the usual slip knot /la and the surplus length of line, Fig. l, which is put up in loops mb on the line may be left undisturbed during a line tightening or slackening operation, or the slip knot 48a and surplus line portion 4Gb may be entirely eliminated, in which event the two ends of the line would be directly secured to each other. Although only one tightener 29 is shown on the pulley line 4|, it should be understood that more than one may be used if desired. For example, a tightener may be put on the line prior to hanging clothes thereon and if the lower reach sags too much after some of the clothes have been put thereon another tightener 29 may be put on the reach 40 to take up the sag produced by the weight of the clothes. This may be repeated as often as it is found necessary.

The form of tightener 29T shown in Figs. 7 to 9 is composed of two major components,Y namely, a horizontal component or member St and a vertical component or member 8|. The member 80 includes the winding means 3h' and the holding means 451. The vertical member which is an arm or lever serves as means by which the tightener may be operated to rotateA the winding device Sir to wind up a portion of the line thereon. The members 80 and SI are held together bya wood screw 82. To prevent turning of the members t!! and 8| with respect to each other they are interlocked. For this purpose the member 8! is provided with a slot 83, Fig. 9, and the member 3| with a slot 84, Fig. 8, each member tting into the bottom of the slot of the other member.

After a portion of the line is wound on the reel 3|r of the tightener 29r the holding means fir is placed under the line portion 4| 2 as in Fig. 7, so that said line portion engages in the groove fitr and behind the tongue 48T. It will be understood that the member 8| may hang down from the line portion 4U, as shown in broken lines in lFig. la and may be comparatively long to facilitate rotation of the tightener during a line Winding operation. The member 8i), however, is comparatively short to occupy a minimum space between the articles of clothes on the line.

When the line portion 4ta is to be unwound from the tightener 2dr, to loosen the line, the holdingV means is rst moved from engagement with said line position and the tightener is in the position shown in broken lines in Fig. la with the Along arm di extending from the line so that the tightener may be permitted to rotate, under the influence of the tension or taut condition of the line, about an axis which is parallelto the Vertical member 8|. During the winding of the line portion, however, the tightener is rotated about the axis of the reel 3|r, which extends at right angles, to the vertical portion or arm 8|. The

. end c5 of the member 8l is shapedsoras to faciliwhen the tightener 2dr rotates freely to unwind the line, while the handle di extends vertically downward from the line, as indicated in broken lines toward the right in Fig2 la. In this position the handle 8| may be guided by both hands of the operator to permit the tightener to rotate about an axis which is substantially at right angles to the winding axis and substantially parallel to the handle Bl.

The vertical member Si extends upwardly from the member 85 and is provided with a roller 8615 which runs on a spindle 8H and travels on the reaches Mx and Hy of the clothes line Mv, Fig. la, to hold said reaches and lower reach of the clothes line close to each other.

It should be understood that the winding device 3 |r and the holding means llr in addition to performing their individual functions also cooperate to assist in holding the member 8| in an upright position in a plane extending transversely of the line.

The roller 861i is located in a vertical slot 86:1: and a diagonally disposed slot 92 communicates therewith, through which the reaches 4|:c and Illy may be passed to the reach accommodating slot x in which the roller 86 is located. To do this, however, it is necessary to swing or tilt the upper end of the device 29.1* laterally, rightwardly in Fig. l, until the slot t2 is substantially parallel with the reaches Mx, diy so that they may be passed freely through the slot. This is also done when it is desired to remove the reaches from the device 29,". It will be understood that the diagonal arrangement of the slot By prevents accidental detachment of the device 29s from the reaches da: and diy.

The holder 25h" comprises a horizontal member 3d and a vertical member or body part 8|. The

member Si) is composed of a winding means 3|r and holding means 45T. This form of device is constructed for use on a clothes line lilo having four reaches Mw, lilrc, My, and file, Figs. la and 7. The reaches da: and Hy are intermediate reaches and they travel in the same direction, the reach Hx extending from pulley 45e, Fig. la, to a pulley dd, and the reach Hy extending from a pulley de to a pulley ttf'. The outer reaches tlw and die also travel in the same direction but opposite to the direction of travel of the reaches 4iso and illy. This type of clothes line is disclosed and claimed in my application, Ser. No. 243,955, led December 5, 1938, now Patent #2,292,415, dated August ll, 1942.

The upper end of the device or holder 29r includes a hook-like portion 88 which extends over the upper reach 4| w of the clothes line to keep the reach Hw properly spaced with respect to the lother reaches. Two guards 89 and 96g are provided to prevent accidental detachment of the device 291* from the upper reach 4|w. The guards are formed by a diagonally extending slot 9| through which the reach Mw is passed to a position under the hook 8S. To do this, however, the holder is tilted to bring slot 9| substantially parallel t0 .the reach Mw of the line ticalposition the guards 89 and 90 are-so related-y that it is impossible for the reach to pass out through the slot 9i.

A roller 93 is also provided in the slot 88x which may ride on the reaches Ma: andI Myin case the device 291 becomes inverted by the articles of clothes when. they are wrapped around the line by the Wind.

It should be understood that the vertical com-- ponent 8| may reach an upwardly extending position, as at the yleft of Fig. la, when the line is'suiiiciently tight and the reach 41.2 has been placed in the holding means 46T; It is then merely necessary to tilt the device, upper endrightwardly in Fig. la, so that the upper reach lll-w may be inserted throughA the slot 9| and that the intermediate reaches Mm and My may be inserted through the` slot 92 as above described.

It should also be understoodv that at the completion of a winding opera-tion the verticalcomponent 8|- may come to rest in a downwardly extending position with reference to the lower reach Mz, as shown in dot-and-dash lines at the right in Fig. la. In this eventit is necessary to first swing the device 29t about the axis of the lower reach Me to the upwardly extending full line position above the reach Mz. The device 29t may then bel swung upper end leftwardly in Fig. la until. the slots 9|- and 92 are substantially parallel with the line so that the ireachels Mw and 413:, My may' be inserted through the slots.

A modified form of holder, 29s,' is constructed for use on the two reach clothes-line 4I shown in Figs. 1 and 6. It also includes a horizontal component 88s and a vertical component 81s, the horizontal component having a Winding device 3|s and a holding means 45s like those of the holder 291". The component 8|shas a slot Br.

with which a diagonally extending slot 86g communicates and through which theupper reach 4B may be passed to a roller 86 in the slot 86x', said roller being provided to facilitate transit oi the holder on the upper reach 40'.

It will be understood thaty the holding device 5r of the device 2ST, Fig. '7, in addition to preventing reverse rotation of the winding device 31T, while in engagement with the clothes car-- rying reach, is also effective to prevent rotation oi said device about an axis which is substantially in alignment with the axis of the vertical component 8l and thus prevent binding of said component on the reaches Mw, 41x and Hy. This tendency to so rotate the holder 251- is caused by the sections ofthe reach le atopposite sides of the componentl because they lie in adjacent vertical planes and produce the effect of a couple. Similarly the holding means 55s, Fig. 6, prevents rotation of the holder 33s about its vertical axis to preventbindingoi thecornponent 8ls on the reach 4Q',

rEhe type of holder illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 may also be applied to the clothes carrying reach of the line without winding up a portion of the reach on they winding device in the event that the line is tight enough. How this is aocomplished will now be described in connection with the holder 291'of Fig. 7. The clothes' carrye ing reach die mayrst be' caused tolle on the top face of that portion of thewinding device to the left' of the 51017331: Figs. '7' and 9; it' may then be extended through thev slot 331, then aroundrthe` lower face of thatl portion of the winding device tof the right of the slot and is finally passed over the extension of thev holding means 45s;y Thus it will be understood that under this condition the winding device 3I's and the holding means 45s cooperate tol form a bight in the reach lle which grips the holder to cause it to travel with said reach, and also cause the.l holder to extend perpendicular to the reachesof the line to prevent accidental passage of the reaches through the diagonal slots 91| and 92 in Fig. '7 and 8611 in Fig. 6.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood that certain parts may be used with others and that changes in the form,l arrangement, proportions, size and details thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the inven tionl as defined in the appended claims.

I' claim:

1. The combination with a pulley clothes line having two reaches, of a device to act on one of said reaches to tighten the line, an arml on said device which arm may be rotated in a plane parallel to a plane in which the reaches of the clothes line are disposed torotate said device and thus tighten the line, means on said armto engage the other reach of the clothes line to' maintain saidreaches in `close proximity, and means to prevent accidental. reverse rotation of said arm in the plane in which said reaches are disposed.

2. The combination with a line, of a device to tighten or slacken said line, said device comprising two members disposed substantially at right angles to each other, one of said members constituting a winding device upon which a portion oi" the line maybe wound, the other meniber yconstituting a handle by which the first mentioned member may be actuated, said line having two reaches, said device being supported on one ci said' reaches, andy a roller on the handle member tor engage the other reach of said line;

3. The combination with a line, of a device to tighten or slacken said line, said device com` prising two members disposed substantially at right angles to each other, one of said. members constituting a winding device upon which a portion of the line may be wound, theother member constituting a handle by which the first mentioned member may be actuated, said line having four reaches, namely a lower reach, an upper reach to travel in the same direction as the lower reach, and two intermediate reaches to travel in a direction opposite to the upper and lower reaches, said device being supported on the lower reach, said handle member extending upwardly from the lower reach to embrace the upper rea-ch and the intermediate reaches.

'4. In a line tightener, the combination of a lever, a winding device at one end thereof upon which a portion of one reach of a pulley line may be Wound by actuating said lever about the' axis of said winding device, said lever being disposed with reference to the winding device so that it may be actuated by rotating said lever about its longitudinal axis so as to carry said winding device bodily about the axis of said lever to thus unwind the line from the winding device, means on said lever to engage' and ride on another reach of said line to keep said reaches close to one another, and means` to maintain said lever in a position vertical to the reaches of the pulley 5. In a line tightener for a pulley clothes line having tvvo reaches disposed in the same plane, the combination of winding means to engage one of said reaches and rotatable about its axis to wind up a portion of one reach thereon, a lever to rotate said winding means, means onY said lever to engage the other reach of the line to maintain the reaches spaced close to each other, and means on said tightener to engage the iirst mentioned reach to prevent accidental rotation of the tightener about the axis of its lever to thus prevent binding of the second mentioned means on the reach which it engages.

6. In a line tightener for a pulley clothes line having twoV reaches disposed in the same plane, the combination of winding means to engage one of said reaches and rotatable about its axis to wind up a portion of the reach, a lever on and eective to rotate said Winding means, means on said tightener to prevent reverse rotation of the winding means, and means on said lever to engage the other reach of the line to retain the reaches deiinitely spaced with respect to each other, the reverse rotation preventing means being also eilective to prevent accidental rotation e of the tightener about the axis of its lever to thus prevent the means which engages said other reach from binding against the latter.

'7. In a line tightener for a pulley clothes line having two reaches disposed in the same plane, the combination of winding means to engage one of said reaches and rotatable about its axis to Wind up a portion of the reach, a lever to rotate said Winding means, said lever having a slot into Which the other reach of the line may be inserted, a roller in said slot t bear on the upper side of said other reach to maintain the reaches in closely spaced relation, and means rigid on said lever to prevent reverse rotation of the tightener to prevent accidental unvvinding of the line therefrom, the last mentioned means being also eiliective to prevent accidental rotation of the tightener about the axis of its lever and thus prevent binding of the lever through the medium of its slot on said other reach.

8. In a tightener for a pulley clothes line having tvvo outer reaches, and an intermediate reach, the combination of Winding means to engage one of the outer reaches, a lever to actuate said Winding device, means on said lever to engage the intermediate reach to keep it closely spaced relatively to the outer reach which is ,engaged by the winding means, means on said lever to engage the other outer reach to keep it closely spaced to the intermediate reach, and means rigid on said lever to prevent accidental rotation of the tightener about the axis of its lever and thus prevent binding of said lever on the intermediate reach and said other outer reach.

9. In a tightener for a pulley clothes line having tvvo out-er reaches, and an intermediate reach, the combination of winding means to engage one of the outer reaches, a lever to actuate said Winding device, said lever having two slots therein, one into which the intermediate reach may be inserted, the other into which the other outer reach may be inserted, and means rigid on said lever to prevent accidental rotation of the tightener about the axis of said lever to thus prevent binding of said lever on the reaches in said slots.

10. A line tightener, having in combination, a lever with flat oppositely disposed faces, a vvind-V ing device rigid on said lever and located atene side and at one end thereof, said winding device having an axis about which it may be rotated in either direction by saidlever to wind up a portion of said line thereon, said Winding device being of the same thickness as that end of the lever at which it is located, an extension at the opposite end and the same side of said lever, said extension being of the same thickness as that end of said lever Where it is located, said extension having opposite faces ilush with the opposite faces of said lever, said extension having two grooves one in each face thereof, said grooves extending towards the winding device, both grooves being diagonally disposed with reference to the faces ci said extension and diverging from each other so that the ends farthest from the Winding device merge with the ilat faces of said extension, the line being insertable into either one or said grooves depending upon the direction in which the winding device has been rotated to Wind the line thereon, anda tongue on said extension projecting beyond the ends of both grooves and towards the Winding device.

il. In a clothes line holder, the combination of means to grip and support the clothes carrying reach of a clothesline, means to engage. an idle reach of the clothes line to permit freedom of transit of the holder on the idle reach, and relatively xed means to prevent accidental detachment of the holder from the idle reach, the relatively xed means permitting the free passage of the idle reach from the holder only when the latter is disposed diagonally with respect to a portion of the idle reach and Without disturbing said relatively xed means, the gripping means being enective to maintain the holder perpendicular to the idle reach and thus cause the relatively ixed means to function.

12. In a clothes line holder, the combination oi means to attach the holder to the clothes carrying reach of a pulley clothes line to cause the holder to travel with said reach, said means being also effective to maintain said holder vertical to the pulley line, a roller to engage an idle reach of the clothes line, a xed member on said holder to be located under the idle reach of the line, and stationary means on said holder to cooperate with said xed member to prevent accidental detachment of the idle reach from the holder when the holder is perpendicular to the idle reach, said iixed member and said stationary means being disposed With respect to one another to permit removal of the idle reach from the holder only When said holder is tilted to a position diagonal to a portion of the idle reach.

13. In a clothes line holder, the combination of means to attach the holder to the clothes carrying reach of a pulley clothes line to cause the holder to travel with said reach, said means being also effective to maintain said holder vertical to the pulley line a roller to engage an Vidle reach of the clothes line, means to limit the extent of movement of the idle reach away from the roller, and means rextending beyond the line engaging portion of said roller to cooperate with the limiting means and thereby prevent accidental detachment of the holder from the idle reach while the holder is perpendicular to said idle reach, the extending means and limiting means being positioned with respect to each other to form a slot diagonally disposed with reference to the idle reach so that the idle reach may be passed freely through said slot only When the holder is placed diagonally with reference to a portion of said idle reach so as to position said slot substantially parallel to the idle reach.

14. The combination with a pulley clothes line having two reaches, of a holder to keep said reaches spaced close to one another, said holder having a single body part, means on said body part to engage one reach of the clothes line and permit freedom of transit of said holder on said reach, and means on said body part to form a bight in the other reach. oi the clothes line to thereby grip and thus cause the latter to travel with the last mentioned reach of the clothes line, said last mentioned means being located at one side oi said body part so that the clothes line reach may readily be inserted into the bight forming means entirely from one side in full view of the operator.

15. The combination with a pulley clothes line having a lower reach and an upper reach of a holder including means to grip the lower reach to cause the holder to travel therewith, a member extending upwardly from the gripping means to engage the upper reach to maintain the reaches in Close proximity, said member having a slot to accommodate the upper reach, and means forming a slot diagonally disposed with reference to the upwardly extending member and extending from the exterior of said holder into the reach accommodating slot, the gripping means when on the reach which it engages being effective to maintain the upwardly extending member in a vertical position, said diagonally disposed slot being slightly wider than the thickness of the upper reach so that thel latter may be passed freely through said diagonally disposed slot to or from the reach accommodating slot when the holder is tilted, against the combined action of the gripping means and the reach it engages, to a position in which the diagonal slot is substantially parallel to the upper reach.

16. The combination with a pulley clothes line having three reaches, namely two outer reaches, and an intermediate reach, of a holder including means to grip one of the outer reaches to cause the holder to travel therewith, a member extending from the gripping means and transversely of the intermediate reach and the other outer reach to maintain all of the reaches denitely spaced from each other, said member having two reach accommodating slots, one for the intermediate reach, and one for said other outer reach, and means forming two diagonally disposed slots, each reach accommodating slot having one of the diagonally disposed slots communicating therewith, the gripping means being effective, when on its associated reach, to maintain said member in its transverse position to prevent accidental removal of the upper reach and the intermediate reach from the reach ac- 5 commodating slots, each diagonally disposed slot being slightly wider than the thickness of the line reaches so that the respective reaches may be passed freely through the diagonal slots from or to their reach accommodating slots after the n) holder has been tilted to move said member from its transverse position, against the combined action of the gripping device and its associated reach, to bring the diagonal slots to posi.- tions substantially parallel with said reaches.

17. The combination with a pulley clothes line having a plurality of reaches, of rotatable means to act on one of said reaches to wind up a portion of said reach thereon to thus tighten the line, and a handle to actuate the rotatable means, said handle to engage the other reach of said line to maintain both reaches closely spaced with respect to each other.

18. The combination with a pulley clothes line having a plurality of reaches, of a rotatable device to act on one reach of the line to wind up a portion of said reach thereon to thus tighten the line, a handle rigid on the rotatable device by which said device may be operated, the line tending to reversely rotate said rotatable device while a portion of the reach is wound thereon, means to engage one of said reaches to prevent accidental reverse rotation of said rotatable device, and means on said handle to engage another one of Said reaches to maintain both reaches closely spaced with respect to each other.

19. The combination with a pulley clothes line having a plurality of reaches, of a rotatable device to act on one reach to wind up a portion of said reach thereon to thus tighten the line, a body .i0 part on which said device is rigidly supported and whereby the rotatable device may be actuy ated, a roller on said body part which may be caused to engage another one oi said reaches to maintain both reaches close to each other, the f line tending to reversely rotate said rotatable device while a portion of the reach is wound thereon, means to hold said device against reverse rotation and to hold said body part substantially perpendicular to said line, and a member on said body part which is effective to prevent accidental disengagement of said roller from its cooperative reach while the body part is held substantially perpendicular tosaid reaches.

JOHN WALDHEIM. 

